Gerry's Collection
of Antique Wax Seal Stamps
The Wax Cases Collection
The wax seal stamps are regrouped in various sections to easily explore the collection.
Black Gold Green Orange Masterpieces Silver/Metal Wax Cases White Wood
I have just a few wax seal cases in my collection, since I mainly collect the classic stamps, the ones with a handle. A wax seal case (as its name indicates) … is a case. Inside the case you can put the wax, and the base of the case is engraved with a coat of arms, when the case comes from a noble family. The case is usually beautifully decorated. This one is in silver, and dates back to 1768-1774, according to the seller. It belonged to a Knight.
Wax Cases in the History.
Wax cases, also known as étuis à cire, were containers designed to store sticks of sealing wax. They appeared in the late 17th century, becoming more widespread and refined throughout the 18th century, especially in aristocratic and diplomatic circles. Wax cases were distinct from wax seal stamps, which bore engraved matrices used to imprint a symbol onto the melted wax. While the stamp served a direct functional purpose tied to identity often featuring a coat of arms or monogram, the wax case was a refined accessory, used to preserve and safely transport sealing wax, particularly during travel. These cases protected the often-fragile wax sticks from damage caused by heat, moisture, or breakage, and were frequently included in personal writing sets carried by nobles, diplomats, or members of court. Typically, cylindrical or slightly tapered in shape, the cases were designed to hold one or more sticks of wax securely. The top would usually unscrew or slide open, allowing easy access. Materials ranged from turned wood to luxurious finishes in gilded silver, gold, ivory, tortoiseshell, shagreen, or enamel. Many were elaborately decorated with engraving, including classical ornamentation, symbolic motifs, heraldic symbols, and the family coat of arms.
This wax case is not made of gold. It is a “pomponne” wax case, nicely decorated with an alliance coat of arms. It shows the union of Louis Espivent de La Villesboisnet, with Ghislaine de Fontenay. The Espivent de La Villesboisnet family belongs to the nobility of Britany in the Saint-Brieuc region. Its most notable member is General Henri Espivent de La Villesboisnet in the 19th century. This family also played a role in the maritime trade in the 18th century. Arthur, another family member (1809-1897), was Count of Villesboisnet. Ghislaine de Fontenay was born in 1883 and passed away in 1919 at the age of only 36. We can notice 3 crescents in the shields of the Espivent family, which typically symbolizes growth, hope, and renewal. It can also represent a connection to the moon, embodying qualities like intuition and enlightenment.
Searching in La Science Heroique, I discovered that members of the Italian Sforza di Santa Fiora family, had a coat of arms similar as the one on this wax case: "Azure, a lion rampant holding with its front paws a branch of quince". These arms were granted to Muzio Attendolo Sforza, founder of the Sforza dynasty, whom Pope John XXIII made Count of Codognola. This wax case is obviously too recent to have belonged to such early members of the family. Several of them were important in the Italian history. Franscesco I Sforza (1401-1466) was the Duke of Milan, while Federico Sforza, born in 1603, 7th Count of Santa Fiora, was elevated to cardinal in 1645 by Pope Innocent X. The Sforzas' rule in Milan lasted until the death of the last member of the family's main branch in 1535. Other branches of the Sforza family survived. The descendants of Sforza Secondo (a son of Francesco Sforza) became the counts Sforza, such as Carlo Sforza.​
A masterpiece of my collection. A wax seal case all in gold bought from France. The details of the engraving of the coat of arms are superb and extraordinarily fine. Truly a fabulous historical item. I like the dove with olive branch, which symbolizes peace, hope, and reconciliation. The craftsman who engraved this stamp is really an artist. Even the compartment (the base or supporting element on which a coat of arms stands) is wonderful.
The elegant silver wax case likely belonged to a noblewoman descended from Jean de Serres. After searching the extensive archives of the Armorial General de France, the coat of arms - Azure, a chevron Or between three stag’s heads - does correspond to the branch of the de Serres family which established itself in Justiniac in 1704, following the second marriage of Jean de Serres, Lord of Lastourelles. He was indeed remarried to Françoise de Vize de Justiniac. Although the precise identity of the original owner remains uncertain, the case may have belonged to Marguerite Loze d’Espagnoulet, who married Jean-Paul-François de Serres, Lord and Baron of Justiniac, around 1740. Their son, Jean-François, born in 1741 and also Baron of Justiniac, later married Rose Alexandrine de Tersac de Montberaud, who could also potentially have owned the stamp. Jean-Francois's brother, Jacques-Hugues, was known as the Chevalier de Justiniac.
Sometimes I don't know what to think about a "less fine" engraving. Was the craftsman unskilled? Is it so old that the tools of that time were less precise? Or is it a reproduction? In any case, even with a questionable engraving, we can always learn. This one shows a plain Ermine shield. It certainly did not belong to any of them, but such a shield was used by the Dukes of Brittany. We may assume that the stamp was of a noble woman, because of its lozenge shape, until we notice the bishop crosier above the crown. The lozenge shields were used for women but also non-combatant nobles. We could now assume that the stamp was of an ecclesiastic member of the Dukes of Brittany. But it also becomes debatable when reading the motto under the shield: Audaces Fortuna Iu Vat, which translates from Latin to "Fortune favors the bold". A motto that does not to really fit with a member of the church. All this to say that even when we have no clue about the origin of a stamp, it is still a source of historical knowledge when analyzing the symbols.
Despite extensive research, I have been unable to determine the origin of this wax case. I purchased it from an antique dealer in Brussels, but it does not appear to have belonged to a Belgian, French, or even Spanish family. I also explored Polish heraldry, but again without success. The shield features two quarters Gules (red), each charged with a crowned eagle, which is the emblem of Poland. Interestingly, the crown also resembles that of a prince in Polish heraldry. However, none of the surviving princely families of Poland bear this coat of arms. The Azure quarters are intriguing, as they are charged with a pavon, a triangular flag, which is relatively uncommon in heraldry. Pavons and Pennons are traditionally associated with military prowess, leadership, and loyalty. While they do not appear frequently, they carry significant historical and symbolic weight, making their presence on the coat of arms especially noteworthy.
Gerry's Collection of Antique Seal Stamps.